Steam gun



April 7, 1931. HY COLBURN 1,799,502

STEAM GUN Filed June 15, 1929 IINVENTOR ATTORN EYS Patented Apr. 7, 1931UNITED STATES V HARRY COLBURN, OI DETROIT, MICHIGAN STEAM GUNApplication filed June 18,

The present invention pertains to a novel steam gun designed for thetreatment of furs,

velvets and other fabrics or textiles. v

The principal object of the invention is to ,7 provide a device of thischaracter adapted to separate-moisture from the steam, so that only drysteam will reach the work. This object is accomplished by a novel bafflearrangement which is fully described herein.

The invention also provides for the application of attachments to thesteam head whereby the work may be combed or brushed while beingsteamed. These attachments are mounted on spring clips which may besecurely fastened to the steam gun and yet easily removed when no longerwanted.

The invention is fully disclosed by way of example in the followingdescription and in the accompanying drawing, in whichgo Figure 1 is alongitudinal section of the device, partly in elevation;

lFig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the steam ate;

p Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the steam 32. I -,i-;- A? i A IFig. 4 is an end view of the device, showing a comb attachment appliedthereto;

Fig. 5 is an elevation at right angles to Figure 4;

Fig. 6 is an end view similar to'Figure 4, showing a brush attachmentapplied to the steam plate; and

Fig. 7 is an elevation atright angles to Figure 6.

Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characterswhich are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

The steam head or plate which emits the vapor and which is passed overthe material 40 to be cleaned is formed in the nature of a dish-shapedmember 1 of substantially rectangular configuration in plan and havingan open top. This member is formed interiorly with a series of spacedtransverse baflies 2 integral with the bottom of the plate andterminating short of the uppermost plan of the late, thereby leaving aclearance indicated by the numeral 3 in Figure 1. The

baflies 2 are each formed with a series of 60 perforations- 4perpendicular to the plane of 1929. Serial No- 370,558.

the bottom of the plate and passing directly through the baflies andbottom plate as illustrated in Figure 3.

Over the open top of the steam plate is la1d a plate 5 of sheet aluminumwhich has 5 one of its ends .bent downwardly at an angle to form abafile 6 lying between one of the end bafiles 2 and the adjacent endwall of the steam plate. Each bafile 2 has a lug 7 proecting upwardlyfrom its upper edge into engagement with the late 5 to assist 1nsupporting the latter. pon the plate 5 is laid an asbestos sheet 8formed in one corner with a slot 9 extending to the transverse center ofthe sheet as clearly shown in Figure 2. 05 F mally, a cover plate 10 ismounted upon the sheet 8 and secured to the head 1 by screws 11 whichalso pass through and retain the members 5 and 8 in position.

The cover plate 10 is formed with an angular and tapped boss 12 at thecenter ofits rear edge and directly over the innerend of the slot 9 tocommunicate therewith. Into the boss 12 is threaded a pipe member 13which has a valve body 14 threaded into the upper end thereof. The valvebody is formed with a seat 15 which lies in a plane parallel to the axisof the pipe 13 and also has a port 16 establishing communication betweenthe valve seat and the pipe. Avalve stem 17 is slidably mounted in thevalve body at right angles to the pipe 13 and carries a head 18 adaptedto rest on the seat 15. p

The pipe 13 is surrounded by a sleeve 19 which also incloses the-valvebody 14 and is formed with an angular handle 20. The valve body 14 has aboss 21 passing through the wall of the handle,-'and into this boss isthreaded a cap 22. which slidably receives the upper end of the valvestem 17. A spring 23 surrounds the valve stem within the cap and abovethe valve head and tends to close the latter upon its seat. I

The valve body is further formed with still another boss 24 in line withthe port 16 5 and at the opposite side of the stem 17 On this boss isthreaded an elbow 25 which reinforces the bend between the parts 19 and20. The handle has an axial passage 26 in fluid communication with theinterior of-the 1 Y may readily boss 24 through the elbow 25. The boss24 has a blind end 27 at the valve stem 17, and communication with thevalve seat is estab lished by a duct 28. Finally, aring 29 surrounds thepipe 13 at the upper end thereof and has pivoted thereto a trigger 30-engaging the outer end of the valve stem 17.

A pipe 31 extends from the elbow through the passage 26 in the handle 20and has its exterior end 32 adapted for the connection of a steam pipethereto. The handle is formed with grooves 33 adapted to receive thefingers ofthe hand holding the handle, and the trigger is so positionedthat it be reached by the forefinger of the hand and swung towards thehandle, whereupon the valve seat 18 will be raised and steam will flowinto the pipe 13.

In operation the bottom of the steam plate is moved over the article tobe treated, which preferably hangs vertically. The angles between thesteaming plate and the pipe 13 and between the pipe and the handle 20are determined so that the bottom of the steam plate may be passed overthe work in a vertical line. while the hand of the operator is in acomfortable and effective working position. On delivery from the pipe13, the steam is confined to the slot or passage 9 from which it findsits outlet through the space formed by the bailio 6 and the plate 5. Thesteam then enters the adjacent end chamber between one of the end bafies2 and the adjacent end wall of the steam plate. The steam now flowssuccessively over the upper edges of the bailles 2 until it reaches theremaining end chamber, from which it is discharged through an exhaustpipe 34 leading from said chamber to a suitable outlet point.

In passing successively over the baiiles 2, the steam is relieved of thefree moisture therein, so that only dry steam passes through theapertures i to the work in conformity with the principal object of theinvention. The condensation may be removed from time to time by tippingthe steam plate so that the condensation will flow to the exhaust pipe34.

In the treatment of certain classes of work it is desirable to brush orcomb the work while steaming. The comb structure applicable to the steamplate consists of a pair of spring clips 35 adapted to engage the steamplate transversely and having secured thereto a pair of combs 36 runninglongitudinally along the bottom of the steam plate at the longitudinaledges thereof. For the purpose of attachment, the steam plate is formedwith ribs 37 disposed longitudinally on the side walls, and the clipshave similarly shaped depressions 38 adapted to receive the ribs. Bythis construction the clips are securely held on the steam plate and mayreadily be removed by merely expanding them and then withdrawing them.

Figures 6 and 7 show a brushing attachment applicable to the steamplate. This attachment consists of a pair of spring clips 39 similar tothose already described and having attached thereto a pair of brushes 40running longitudinally along the bottom of the plate at the edgesthereof. It will be apparent that either the comb or the brush, as thecase may be, is moved over the work while the latter is beiiig treatedby steam passed through the steam plate.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed, it will be understood that various alterations in the detailsof construction may be made without departing from the scope of theinvention, as indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. A steam gun comprising a hollow head, bafflesdividing the interior of said head into compartments, said bafliesterminating short of the top of said head, said bafies having aperturesextending from the upper edges thereof through the base of said head, acovering structure mounted upon said head, steam inlet means throughsaid covering structure, said covering structure having a passageleadingfrom said inlet means to one of the end compartments, and steam exhaustmeans from the remaining end compartment.

2. A steam gun comprising a hollow head, baffles dividing the interiorof said head into compartments, said baifies terminating short of thetop of said head, said bafies having apertures extending from the upperedges thereof through the base of said head, a sheet metal plate mountedover said head to close the same, said plate having an opening at one ofthe end compartments, an asbestos sheet mounted over said plate, a coverplate mounted upon said sheet, steam inlet means through said coverplate, said sheet having a passage extending from said inlet means tosaid opening, and steam exhaust means from the remaining endcompartment.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

namax corneas.

